Competition heats up for area players

This month brings state mixed doubles team competitions and national individual championships.

Last weekend, three local squads challenged for bragging rights in the Florida Sectional Senior Mixed Doubles Championships in Daytona Beach.

This week, juniors are in Palm Springs, Calif., for the 36th annual Easter Bowl Championships.

Later this month, two more teams will play in the Florida Sectional Adult Mixed Doubles Championships at Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.

In senior mixed doubles, Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club was the state runner-up in the 7.5 division, Westin Innisbrook Resort placed fourth in its 6.5 flight and Phil Green Tennis Academy was third in 8.5.

In flight competition among six squads, Bardmoor edged Palm Coast to advance to the final.

After five matches, both were 4-1 overall with 11 individual wins and 4 losses. The tie-breaker was decided by fewest sets lost, with Bardmoor losing nine and Palm Coast 10.

"We've had the same team the last two or three years," Bardmoor captain John Beda said. "We basically like the social group and getting couples together.

"In mixed doubles, you use more finesse and play nice, as opposed to using more power for placement like in men's doubles," he said. "I think that's why we do well -- we're team-oriented and enjoy playing together."

The other Bardmoor members are Victoria Tuller, Mary Jane Evertz, Mickie and John Gelestor, Mike Carrigan, Gale and Larry Nickerson, Tom and Angela Lincicome, Rhonda Thompson and Les Spang.

Gainesville won the 6.5 and 8.5 state senior titles.

The juniors traveled west for the prestigious Easter Bowl, which provides a venue for national and college coaches to see the players of the future.

It is the only major tournament that includes three age divisions for girls and boys, all with 128-player draws.

"This is my third Easter Bowl, and the draws are always tough," said Largo's Christina Liles, the girls 14-and-under seventh seed. "Lately, I've been working on a lot of fitness, along with getting more depth on my shots and being more consistent," she said.

This week's Bowl is the first for Oldsmar's Morgan Frank. Competing in the girls 14 class, the 13-year-old hopes her improved topspin on groundstrokes will combine with her more consistent serve.

"Most of all, I want to make a good showing," Frank said. "I know there are good players there, and I plan to play the singles and doubles to get as many matches as I can."

Through Monday's matches, Liles had won three rounds and Spicijaric two to remain in the main draw.

In other area results, Dorr (No. 14 in girls 14) and Bowles (boys 14) each won two rounds.

Winning a round before falling to the back draw were Brianna Williams (18); Lindsay Gray, Frank and Alexis Kreplick (14); Neilly (18); George Navas (16); and Herzig (14).

Later this month, Bardmoor takes nearly the identical squad to the Florida Sectional Adult Mixed Doubles Championships. Also competing for Bardmoor, which includes senior team members, is Laura Rustin.

Joining Bardmoor in the April 25-27 state tournament is the 8.5 combined East Lake Woodlands-Countryside Country Club squad.

"This is our first time with a combined team from Countryside and East Lake and the first for any of us to get this far," captain John Noeske said. In addition to Noeske are Jane Robinson, Susan Angell Silva, Robin Meinrod, Donna Roberts, Ray Hirsch and Mark Curran.

In the Shipwatch Tennis Club men's doubles championship, Henry VanDrunen and John Finlayson played Al Smith and Joe Bulone. Smith and Bulone were crowned the champs.

Shipwatch finished first in the South Pinellas Ladies Doubles League 3.5-4.0 division. Feather Sound Country Club was a close second. Playing for Shipwatch were captain Gaile Kimpel, Sylvia Scoble, Denise Rosenblatt and Carole Wilhelm.